Grand Bahama completes 17 cruise refits, with six more to go this year

Grand Bahama completes 17 cruise refits, with six more to go this year

Carnival Breeze - one of five Carnival Cruise Line ships docked this year(Photo: Grand Bahama Shipyard)

Grand Bahama Shipyard has completed work on 17 of the 23 cruise ships scheduled for maintenance, overhauls and upgrades at the Freeport facility during 2017.

The projects range from significant propulsion and technical systems overhauls and hull treatment to accommodations and public spaces upgrades and the addition of attractions like water parks.

Carnival Cruise Line has docked five vessels—Carnival Ecstasy, Carnival Dream, Carnival Sensation, Carnival Glory and Carnival Breeze—all for full hull blasting and application of silicone coatings and major technical projects including major steel replacement in underwater areas and pipe replacements on multiple systems throughout.

Grand Bahama Shipyard supported the overhaul of thrusters and stabilizers, and fabrication and installation of sea chests that were fitted into hulls to support the requirements of newly installed scrubber systems. Other major technical projects were the positioning of additional diesel generator modules on four vessels and cyclo-convertor installation, the latter a cooperative project among Grand Bahama Shipyard, ABB and Carnival.

On the hotel side, the yard supported Carnival's hotel refurbishment team with interior structural modification works on several vessels and the construction and installation of the WaterWorks aqua park.

Royal Caribbean International's Grandeur of the Sea received a scrubber system, enhancements to aluminum and steel structures of the upper deck, and complete hull blasting and application of silicone coating. A particularly notable project undertaken by the yard was the erection and maintenance of a complex, 1,500-cubic-meter scaffolding structure to support interior renovations.

Princess Cruises' Caribbean Princess and Pacific Princess each had approximately 11 tons of steel replaced in structural projects on the hull and upper decks. Other projects included the application of the new Princess livery by the yard's hull treatment department.

Celebrity Summit was docked in April for a major ABB Azipods overhaul. The yard team is so versed in this work that the vessel was ready to return to operations within seven days of going dry.

Norwegian Cruise Line docked five ships in the first half of 2017. Norwegian Sky works included UTM of pool structures and replacement of galley equipment. Grand Bahama Shipyard supported Rolls-Royce for the overhaul of CPP and thrusters, and the yard further assisted by constructing and maintaining complex scaffolding for interior renovation projects.

The extensive work programs for Norwegian Pearl and Norwegian Jade included full blast and application of silicone coatings, the installation of new ballast water treatment system pipe lines and the overhaul of thrusters, stabilizers and ABB Azipods.

Grand Bahama Shipyard said it leads the way globally in organizing and supporting ABB Azipod and ABB Fixipod overhauls.

Disney Cruise Lines used the yard for Disney Fantasy’s first class-related drydocking. Works included an extensive hull treatment and anode replacement program, and the erection and maintenance of a huge scaffold stage to support major water park and slide refurbishments.